Plate cylinder register mechanism



Aug. 9, 1960 R. H. THOMPSQN PLATE CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheen 1 Filed July 28, 1958 @Aux INVENTOR. m55/W h'. THOMPSON GIFT Aug. 9, 1960 R. H. THOMPSON PLATE CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1958 5 mm 6 m n Wm M m R m n 4 g vv/Mg? 4 7% f, m W/w a F Aug. 9, 1960 R. H. THOMPSON 2,948,215

PLATE CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISM Filedv July 28, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet;Y

el O xf- 54 IN V EN TOR.

ROBERT lf. THOMPSGV EY wmf PLATE CYLINDER REGISTER IYIECHANISM Robert H. Thompson, "Cleveland, Ohio, assigner Vto HarrislIntertype Corporation, Cleveland, Ghio, a corporation v of Delaware Filed vJuly 28, A1958, Sein-No. 751,376

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-248) This invention relates to a registering mechanism for a plate cylinder of a multicolor vprinting press, particularly to a means for accomplishing both axial and circumferential register at the same end of the plate cylinder while the cylinder is rotating. e

Many diiferent types of devices for bodily moving a .plate cylinder axially and circumferentially have been proposed, andseveral are commercially used. These registering mechanisms yfall into two gener-a1 categories: (l) those in which the axial or lateral adjusting mechanism is locatedat one end of the cylinder and the circumferential orv front Aregister adjusting mechanism is located at the opposite end ofthe cylinder, and `(2) those in which both are located at the same end of the cylinder. vThe main objection to the first type Vof mechanism Vis that a press'man must often go from one side of the press to the other several times 'in order to properly eiect'each adjustment. The second type overcomes this disadvantage, but it presents another problem,rthe one of making the device simplel and compact. This is particularly true where registration is accomplished While the plate cylinder is rotating during press operation. v

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a relatively simple4 and compact axial and circumferential adjusting mechanism for a printing press plate cylinder, both of which adjustments are located at the same end of the cylinder for ease of accessby an operator and are capable of being operated whileV the cylinder is rotating.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjacent axial and circumferential adjustingmechanisms for a printing press `plate cylinder, in which -the same portions of the cylinder shaft are journaled in their bearings for allV positions of adjustment. y y

Still another object of the invention is lto provide a simple, eiicient and easily operable means -for-adjusting a printing press cylinder axially while the cylinder is rotating. l

Other objects and advantages will be apparent `fromt-he following descriptionin which 'reference is Vmade to the accompanying drawings.

According to the invention, the shaft of a plate cylinder -is journaled in bearings in axially-movable, nonrotatable sleeves one of which, when moved endwise, shifts the plate cylinder axially. Additionally, a driven gear is mounted on an v'outwardly' extending end of the shaft adjacent the sleeve which is .physically moved, the gear being non-rotatable on the shaft but endwise movable relative thereto. The driven gear and its drive gea-r have meshing helical' teeth, and means is provided jfor bodily moving the driven gear endwise yon the shaft to cause the helical teeth to impart a rotative movement to the plate cylinder with respect to the drive gear. Both the sleeve adjustment and the gear adjustment arearranged tobe operable while 'the plate cylinder is rotating. Ien the drawings: Y. 4 l Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational or '611e "end f 2,948,216 Patented Aug. 9,1960

ice

a plate cylinder of a printing press, and means vfor adjusting the cylinder axially and circumferentially.

IFig. 2 is an end elevational view of the axial -or lateral registering mechanism, and -is taken substantially along lines 2-2-of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the-circumferential registering mechanism and is taken `substantially along lines 3 3 of Fig. l.

-l-iig. 4 Ais an enlarged sectional view taken generally along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View taken along lines 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a lmeans for restraining the sleeves in which the cylinder shaft is mounted against rotation, and is taken substantially along lines 6-6 of Fig.1.

Referring now to Fig. l, a plate cylinder 10 has -a shaft 11 journaled in a side frame 12 of a printing press. The -cylinder Y10 lmay be 'a printing cylinder of any -one of the several diiferent types of printing presses, it being immaterial for the jpurposes of this invention as to which type of processeis used. Furthermore, since the purposes of `shifting such a cylinder both laterally and circumferentially about its axis are well understood in the printingrart, that will not be dwelled upon in great detail here. The shaft 11 may extend completely through the cylinder 10 and have its other end .journaledin a side frame similar to the side frame 12, or -it may comprise two separate end pieces extending outwardly of the cylinder and fixed-thereto. The side frame 12 is` bored to receive a sleeve 13. A cap '14, shown in .greater fdetail in Fig. 2, may constitute a portion et the side `frame journal. A combination radial and thrust4 anti-friction bearing V15 has its outer race tightly fitted internally inl the sleeve 13 and held therein against movementby means of a -collar 16 and an end plate fastened tothe sleeve by a plurality of screws` 1.8. `The inner race oi the bearing 15 is tapered and tightly fitted onto a tapered portion of the shaftl-l. Y It is held in place on the shaft by collars '19'and 20, a hubh'Zl, and a plate fastened .to the end of the shaft 11 by means of a plurality Aoi screws 23. e e I l e The `sleeve '13 is restrained against rotationA in the side frame 12 by vmeans of a plurality o f pins 24 extending from the sleeve 13 toward the cylinder 10, and a yokeshaped restraining bracket 25 for each pin. I The .restraining brackets l25'are fastened to the inside of -the frame 12 byvmeans of screws 26. The sleeve bearing 15, pins 24 and brackets 25 are substantially duplicated at the opposite end` ofthe cylinder to rotatably journal the otherend of theshaft 11. It will be lseen, therefore, that both of the sleeves can be rnoved endwse in their respective bbreshand with them the anti-friction bearings and the shaft will also move t'o shiftthe cylinder 10 axially. By the utilization of anti-friction bearings which are a combination radiali and thrust bearing, the axial adjustment of the cylinder 10 is accomplished with out setting up any harmful force except the very slight force through the bearing 15 during the axial movement. Such bearings are customarily pre-loaded and play therein -is practically indiscernible, even during the adjustment. I To effect the adjustmentlin the llateral direction, the sleeve 13 is provided with threads y27 on the end ofthe sleeve extending outwardly of the side `frame uQooperating with these threads is a rotatable nutrl28. The nut is held against the outer 'face of the side =framed12 by means of a plurality of gibs 29 rigidly lfastened tothe siderame. The Vgibs -29 are "shown as bei-ng"1 ;h1eel in number i-n Fig.l 2. 1Vhenythe nut 2Q is rotated, since it-is restrained by the vgibs 29 againstendwise fnovement, and since 'theysleevle l13 is restrained against rotativeV move-Y ment in the side frame '12,'the sleeve 13 will move in an 3 axial direction and consequently move with it the cylinder 10.

Rotation of the nut 28 is accomplished by the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. The nut 28 has on its periphery, 'worm gear teeth 30 which cooperate with a rotatable worm 3&1 mounted on a shaft 32. The shaft is turned by means of a handwheel 33. The worm 31 is surrounded by a bracket 34 which straddles the worm to journal the shaft 32. Friction washers 3S (shown best in Fig. 4) may be located in the bracket 34 to firmly grip to shaft 32 and prevent vibration in the press from having any effect upon the shaft. The shaft 32 is threaded and carries a nut 36. The nut 36 acts as a stop by engaging one or the other of two collars 3'7 and 38 at its ends of travel. Such engagement prevents further rotation of the handwheel 33 and the shaft 32. As seen in Fig. 2, the nut 36 is mid-way between the two collars 37 and 38 and is therefore in its zero position of adjustment. The handwheel 33 may be adjusted in either direction from zero to shi-ft the cylinder axially about IAB in each direction from Zero, thereby providing an overall adjustment of Mt".

The extent of adjustment of the cylinder 10 axially is indicated on a dial 39 which cooperates With a stationary indicator 40. The dial 39 is preferably graduated in thousandths of an inch and is directly connected through gearing to the handwheel 33 to provide a positive indication of the extent of side adjustment. Referring again to Fig. l, it Will be seen that rotation of the shaft 32 rotates a pinion 41 which in turn rotates a larger gear 42 and a shaft 43 on which the gear 42 is mounted. One end of the shaft 43 is journaled in an ear 44 extending downwardly from the bracket 34. The end of the shaft 43 remote from the gear 42 carries a small pinion 45 which meshes with a larger gear 46. The gear 46 is carried on a short shaft 47 which supports the dial 39.

In Fig. it will be seen that the nut 36 is made up of connected upper and lower halves 48 and 49 respectively, and has one side face engaging the outer surface of the side frame 12. This prevents rotation of the nut 36 and permits its travel between its limits defined by the collars 37 and 38.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the hub 21 is tapered internally to snugly t a taper on the end of the shaft 11. The hub 21 is non-rotatively mounted on the shaft 11 by means of a key S0. It is further provided with external spur gear teeth 51, the purpose of which will become apparent presently. Fitted externally on the hub 21 is adriven gear 52. The gear is made up of a hub-section 53 and a ring 54 having helical gear teeth which are driven from a helical drive gear 55. The hub-section 53 has internal teeth 56 mating with the teeth 51. Together, the teeth 51 and 56 act as a spline to enable movement of the gear 52 in an axial direction relative to the hub 21 while preventing rotation between the two members. The ring 54 carrying the helical teeth is fastened securely to the hub-section 53 by means of an annular plate 57 snugly fitted on the hub 21, and a plurality of screws 58 and S9 which grip the ring 54 between the plate 57 and collars 60 surrounding the screws 59.

Means is provided for shifting the driven gear 52 endwise, and thereby, through the helical teeth on that gear and its drive gear 55, imparting a rotative movement to the plate cylinder with respect to the drive gear 55. Such rotative movement will alter the front lay of the print on the plate cylinder With respect to a previous or subsequent color of the multi-color press. To effect this circumferential adjustment, the following means is provided. An end bell 61 is securely. fastened to the hubsection 53 of the driven gear 52 by means of screwsl 62. The bell 61 is concentric with the driven gear and the shaft 11. A pair of anti-friction bearings, which. when placed back-to-back, provide a combination radial and thrust bearing 63, are carried by andA have their outer races fixed in the bell 61. The inner races of the bearing 63 are secured to a short shaft 64 which is threaded at one end as at 65 into a nut 66. The nut 66 is fixed against rotation in a housing 67 mounted on the side frame 12. Keyed to the short shaft 64 is a worm gear 68 which cooperates with a Worm 69. The worm 69 is rotated in the same fashion as Worm 31. The parts for providing such rotation and providing an indication of the extent of circumferential registration are substantially the same as the mechanism described in Fig. 2 for the axial adjustment, and need not be further explained. Sufce it to say that s of circumferential or around registration is preferably provided in each direction, totaling M1." adjustment. It will be noted that the bearing 63 is secured to the short shaft 64 and Yto the bell 61 against relative endwise movement with respect to either of them.

The means shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for providing the separateadjustments may be considerably simpliiied and, if an indication is not necessary, the number of parts may be materially reduced. Furthermore, while a manual operating means has been shown, it is obvious that a reversing motor may be provided on the shaft for rotating each of the worms 31 and 69, with a control means for the motors being provided at some remote station.

Various modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. Registering mechanism for a plate cylinder of a printing press including a pair of spaced side frames, a shaft supporting said cylinder between the side frames and having ends extending outwardly from the cylinder, a pair of non-rotatable, endwise movable sleeves mounted in said side frames and journaling the shaft ends, means restraining the shaft and sleeves against relative endwise movement, a nut surrounding one of said sleeves, means restraining the nut against endwise movement, cooperating screw threads on the nut and the one sleeve, means operable during rotation of said cylinder for rotating said nut to impart an endwise movement to said sleeve and thereby to said shaft and cylinder, the shaft end adjacent said nut extending outwardly a short distance from its side frame, a helical driven gear, means mounting said gear on the shaft extension, said mounting means enabling relative endwise movement between the gear and shaft but restraining them against relative rotative movement, a helical drive gear meshing with the driven gear, and means operatively connected to and concentric with the driven gear for bodily moving it endwise to thereby impart a circumferential movement to the plate cylinder with respect to the drive gear through the helical teeth on said gears, said last named means being operable during rotation of the cylinder.

2. Registering mechanism according to claim l wherein said nut has worm gear teeth on its periphery, and wherein the means for rotating the nut includes a Worm and an operating shaft carrying the worm, said operating shaft being closely adjacent the side frame and rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder shaft.

3. Registering mechanism according to claim llwherein the means for bodily moving the driven gear comprises a short shaft outwardly of and coaxial with the cylinder shaft, a combination radial and thrust bearing operatively connecting the short shaft and the driven gear, said short shaft, bearing and driven gear being capable of endwise movement as a unit, a fixed nut threaded onto the end of the short shaft remote from its bearing, and means for adjustably rotating said short shaft to move it endwise relative to the fixed nut.

4. Registering mechanism for a plate cylinder of a printing press including a pair of spaced side frames, a shaft supporting said cylinder between the side frames and having ends extending outwardly from the cylinder, a pair of non-rotatable, endwise-movable sleeves mounted .in said side-frames, a combination radial and thrust antifriction bearing mounted in each sleeve and journaling the shaft ends, means restraining the shaft bearings and sleeves against relative endwise movement therebetween, a nut surrounding one of said sleeves, means restraining the nut against endwise movement relative to the adjacent side frame, cooperating screw threads on the nut and the one sleeve, and means operable during rotation of said cylinder for rotating the nut to impart an endwise movement to the shaft and sleeve and thereby to said cylinder.

5. Registering mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said nut has worm gear teeth on its periphery, and wherein the means for rotating the nut includes a worm and an operating shaft carrying the worm, said operating shaft being rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder shaft.

6. Registering mechanism according to claim 5 including means indicating the extent of axial movement of the shaft, and a direct operative connection between the operating shaft and the indicating means.

7. Registering mechanism for a plate cylinder of a printing press including a pair of spaced side frames, a shaft supporting said cylinder between the side frames, a pair of non-rotatable, endwise movable sleeves mounted in said side frames and journaling the shaft therein, means restraining the shaft and sleeves against relative endwise helical driven gear, means adjacent the one sleeve mount-y ing said gear on the shaft and enabling relative endwise movement between the gear and shaft but restraining them against relative rotative movement, a helical drive gear meshing with the driven gear, and means on that side of the press on which said gears are mounted and operatively connected to the driven gear for bodily moving the driven gear Vendwise to thereby impart a circumferential movement to the plate cylinder with respect to the drive gear through the helical teeth on said two gears, said last named means being operable during rotation of the cylinder.

References Cited in the iiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,202 Barber Feb. 8, 1944 2,653,538 Pegrebrune Sept. 29, 1953 2,677,971 Greenwood T.. May 11, 1954 2,775,935 Reinartz et al. Jan. l, 1957 

